Container



D. E. LARSON April 8, 1941.

CONTAINER Filed Feb. 17, 1939 Apni s, 1941.. D. ELARSQN 2.2371308 CONTAINER Filed Feb. 17, 1959 3 Sheetsheet 2 figg /f/ ff@ ff lllatented' Apr. 8, 1941 httltd UUNTAINEE.

Donald E. Larson, Chicago, lill., assignor to phicago Bridge la Iron olnpany, mileage, lll.. a corporation oi illinois Application February lll, ldlib, aerial No.. bddldl (ci. inaii l lalm.

This invention relates to improvements in containers and more especially a sheet metal con..

` tainer particularly adapted for holding fluids under pressure, such as liquids, gases. and liquids with gas above. The container is especially adapted for holding liquids under pressure, lor example, volatile liquids like gasoline and light oils where evaporation causes an internal gas pressure. By holding such pressure up to a certain point, evaporation may be lessened or eliminated.

in general my improved container romprises a cylindrical shell closed at the top and bottom by circular noded end members. In other words, the ends are generally curved or bulged (preferably outwardly) but provided with node circles.

another ieature ci my invention is the provision ol columns connecting the node circles oi the top and bottom, such columns serving both as compression and tension members.

.another ieature of lthe invention is the inalilns oi the node circle in the top with a larger diameter than that in the bottom so that the columns connecting the node circles will be inclined upwardly and outwardly. Preferably,v the upper node circle lies substantially above the low point or the outer trough in the bottom.

ldy this construction the noded roof is sell? draining, the bottom is relatively shallow and the structure is relatively stable under gas pressure alone. This construction also imposes substantially horizontal radial stresses on the plates where the columns are connected so as to lessen or eliminate any tendency ior the outer portionI oi the shell to rise when the container is subjected to internal pressure.

@ther features and advantages will. appear more fully as l2 proceed with my specification.

in those forms of devices embodying the leatures of my invention shown in the accompanying drawings-Fia 1 is a view in side elevation partly in section; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same partly in section; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l showing a modification; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the same partly in section; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another modication; and Fig. 6 is a view taken as ndicated by the line 6 of Fig. 5.

rI he container shownin Figs. 1 -and 2` includes a. vertical cylindrical sheet metal shell I0 closed by the top and bottom circular noded end members II and I2 respectively. As shown, the top is generally curved or bulged outwardly. having a central dome portion IId surrounded by the node circle lla. Likewise the bottom l2 is generally curved or bulged outwardly and provided with the central portion lilcl surrounded by the node circle lidi. The node circle ila is somewhat larger in diameter than the node` circle liu so that the circle lla lies substantially above the low point ith in' the trough of the bottom lying outside oi the node circle lla.

it indicates a circular girder attached to the top under the node circle lla and it indicates a similar girder on the bottom above the nodev circle lla. The girders it and it are connected :by upwardly and outwardly inclined braces ll serving both as tension and compression members.

ll'he top is preferably formed so that there is no trough or depression above the node circle l la. That is, the outer portion l lb of the roof extends outwardly trom the node circle lla substantially horizontally and then curves downwardly to lts periphery lic. By thisconstruction the roof is sell draining.

lid indicates an angle iron attached to the upper edge of the shell it for bracing purposes and the lower edge is provided with a similar anglelron brace l l.

The shell lll is preferably thicker toward the bottom as indicated by lia, than at the top as indicated by lib. In other words, the plates trom which the shell it is made are progressively thinner toward the top. The container is designed to hold liquid and consequently the pressure at the bottom will be somewhat greater than the pressure at the top owing to the increased head oi liquid.

The structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is substantially the same as that shown ln Figs. l. and

2 except that the end members have two node circles instead of one. Obviously, the top and bottom can each be noded to any degree desired. As here shown, the top, indicated in general by lll, has the central dome portion IIId surabove the low point in the trough II2b and likewise the node circle IIIe lies above the low point of the ltrough Ilf.

- `I I5 indicates a circular girder under the node K circle Illa, and 2I5 indicates a similar glrder under the node circle IIIe. Likewise, on the bottom there is a circular girder IIS above the node circle ll2a and a circular girder 2I6 above the node circle H2e.

Il'l indicates upwardly and outwardly slanting braces connecting the girders H5 and IIB; and likewise 2| 'I indicates similar braces connecting the girders 2I5 and 2|6.

H0 indicates the vertical cylindrical shell con necting the top and bottom members.

The top is so curved that preferably there are no troughsy or depressions at the node circles Il la and Ille so that the roofs will be self draining.

The structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 has its roof plates 2H tangent to the vertical shell 2li) atthe point of connection. In other respects, this container is substantially the same as the one shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

While there are lshown and described certain embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claim, in which it is intended to claim al1 novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as permissible, in View of the prior art,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by letters patent, is:

A vertical cylindrical shell closed by circular noded top and bottom members, a node circle in the top having a larger diameter than the corresponding node circle in the bottom, and upwardly and outwardly slanting braces joining a top node circle with the corresponding bottom node circle.

DONALD E. LARSON. 

